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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Law & Order SVU “Criminal Hatred” Recap & Review

Law & Order SVU “Criminal Hatred” began with the SVU team chasing down a gay man who was hooking up with men and then raping, beating, and robbing them. Once they had their man but had weak evidence, ADA Barba tried to go the hate crime route in order to get a stiffer penalty. Barba finds himself up against an attorney who at first meeting he seems to condescend, maybe thinking her abilities are no match for his. She later turns out to be a formidable opponent. Nia Vardalos was enjoyable to watch as her character continued to find ways to foil the usually confident Barba. In fact, I thought the two had great chemistry as legal opponents.

The episode was light on action and fairly predictable, but as I have always been a big fan of the legal aspects of all the Law & Order shows, I enjoyed the courtroom scenes. Raúl Esparza is a bit of a scene stealer – I mean this in a good way. It’s hard not to focus on him. It’s not just because Barba is a sharp dressed ADA or that he has a cocky air about him. Esparza physically takes charge of the scene by simply using interesting facial expressions and/or body movements to punctuate his lines. Sometimes it's even the use of a prop such as a glass of scotch or tapping on a chair. When the story tends to be a little dull, as this one was, it’s good to have a character that brings a spark to the screen.

I am a little fuzzy on the argument about the crime not being a hate crime as it involved a subset of a protected class. I suppose I have to do a little more reading on the issue.

Again, no Cragen and no Munch. At least we got a passing explanation for Cragen’s absence. While the writers are doing a great job developing the witty banter between Fin and Rollins, I really miss Munch’s commentary.

Fin and Amaro are working undercover, cruising a gay bar while Benson and Rollins watch from their nearby car. Benson says the suspect is a fit looking male, white, between 25-40 with blonde hair, hitting on other men. Benson says it will take cop instincts and Fin and Amaro will just have to sort through them.

Elsewhere, Melissa leaves the house with the kids and complains to her husband, Charles Murphy, that someone asked to meet him on a Friday night. Charles says it is an acquisition and they can’t be seen talking to the other side’s lawyer. Later, Charles walks into a gay bar and scopes things out. He locks eyes with a man with slicked back hair sitting at the bar. They later are in a hotel room and when Charles asks how he would like his drink, the man says “straight, like you.” Charles replies if he were straight they wouldn’t be there, and he is glad they are. He also says that the man has nice eyes, and the man says he has some other nice parts too, asking if he wants to see them. Charles swigs down his drink and puts down his phone.

Sometime later, Melissa is calling him on his cell but Charles is laying in the bed, beaten and groaning, and gagged.

Later, Benson and Rollins are in the hotel room as Charles Murphy is being taken by EMS. Rollins says the hotel only has cameras in front and Charles checked in alone and thinks his company used a side door, and she thinks he may have walked right by them last night. Benson calls it bad luck; whoever picked him up did his usual number. Rollins says he tied him up, rear entry, and stole his wallet. As Charles was beaten up, Benson thinks their perp is escalating. Benson looks at his phone and sees 5 missed calls from his wife, guessing he was supposed to be with them.

Back at SVU, Benson says Cragen is at One PP and they want to know how this could have happened when they were on the scene. Fin thinks it was because there was only 4 of them and 400 gay bars. Rollins adds that none of the previous vics want to talk about it. Benson says they are closeted gay men and the perp knows how to pick them. Rollins thinks there are more that never reported it/ Amaro gets off the phone and says that Charles Murphy just woke up.

Amaro and Benson walk into the hospital room and Melissa Murphy asks them if they found the man who attacked his husband. Benson says they are working on it. Melissa wonders why the attacker hurt Charles, he would have just given him his wallet, and she asks if he did this to other people. Benson asks if she can give her a list of the credit cards Charles had in his wallet. He tells her he has it at home and despite his wife not wanting to leave him, Benson says it would be a help. Melissa leaves the room. When Amaro questions the “mugger” excuse, Charles asks him what was he supposed to say, he’s been married for 16 years with 3 kids. Amaro asks if he can at least tell them what happened, and Charles states he will not be able to testify. Amaro says to worry about that later and to just help to get this guy. Charles says he doesn’t remember much and had a lot to drink. Benson says the man has done this to 4 others that they know of, hurting them worse as he goes along. Amaro says the man targets people like him, in places where they were not supposed to be. Charles says he gets these urges and tries to fight them and when Benson says they are not judging him, he says his firm is not gay friendly. If he loses his wife and his family he loses everything. He says to leave him alone, he is sorry he can’t help them. Benson and Amaro leave.

At a smoke shop, Fin and Rollins tell the owner that Charles Murphy bought a $200 water pipe and charged it to his Amex last night at 2AM. Rollins asks for surveillance video and of course he doesn’t have any. He describes the buyer as 5’10”, blond hair, and "gay face." Fin tells the guy he is coming to the station to help make a sketch. When he balks and as another man walks in, Rollins makes her badge obvious and the guy leaves. Rollins says they will stay there and keep him company till closing time. He grudgingly agrees to come with them.

Later, Amaro and Rollins are in a gay bar and show Jace the bartender the sketch. While Jace talks around the issue, another man sitting nearby overhears and he walks away from the bar. They see him leave and Amaro radios to Fin the description of the man who is walking out. Fin and Rollins stop him as he exits and Amaro and Benson catch up. Amaro tells the man that he saw them and the picture and took off pretty fast, and the man says he is late for a dinner. Rollins asks if it is with his wife, and he insists he didn’t do anything wrong. Benson shows him the sketch and asks what is the rush, and Fin asks maybe they should call his wife and tell her he will be late. He admits that he saw the man and he saw him earlier but he didn’t want to get involved. The man tried to pick him up and he wanted to go to a hotel room but he got a bad feeling. He thinks he moved on to someone else in a dark suit and they left together, pointing to the direction where they walked. Amaro says there are a couple hotels off 7th.

At the Rixton Hotel, Benson and Amaro get to a room where Harry Dunleavy, a man fitting the description, recently checked in. There is no answer to their knock and the manager gives them the key to open the door. They enter and find Dunleavy laying beaten on the bed, not breathing. No one else is there. When Rollins calls for a bus, Benson then states Dunleavy is gone.

Back at SVU, Harry’s wife speaks with Benson and Amaro and she says he suffered from a heart condition but that he died from precipitating circumstances, wondering what those were. Benson explains he was a victim of a crime – he was in a hotel in Chelsea. Amaro says he was assaulted. She says she always told him to be careful with those boys he picked up. They are surprised she knew about his “activities.” She explains that she was his wife for 12 years and their anniversary is tomorrow. Amaro comments that not all men would tell their wives, and she replies he just needs to blow off steam sometimes but he was considerate. He knew he would hurt her if he cheated on her, and when Benson questions “if”, she replies “with women.” She says she does not expect them to understand, every marriage is different and theirs is a little more different than others. She says they loved each other and he would say he loved her madly.

At the townhouse of Charles and Melissa Murphy, Benson and Amaro attempt to get more information from Charles. They tell him his attacker did it again and killed someone. Amaro says they are losing interest in covering for him with his wife. Benson says it is going to make the news and his name will come out. Charles says he met him at a bar called New York Junk and he said his name was Dirk, he recognized him from a strip club – it was hunk night.

Fin and Rollins are at the strip club and question the owner about Dirk and he says Dirk is really Jeremy Jones and he let him go, he was an attitude case. Fin asks if he has an address and the guy says anything for the NYPD. A woman walks up to Fin and recognizes him as Detective Tutuola, and he explains to Rollins she was an acquaintance from undercover days. As Rollins is handed Jeremy's address, she asks Fin if his undercover name was “Detective Tutuola.”

Later, the police break down the door of Jeremy’s apartment and he is there smoking dope with another guy – Mason - using the water pipe he bought with the stolen credit card. They are both arrested. Mason asks Jeremy what is going on, and Jeremy tells him not to worry.

Back at SVU, Fin and Rollins interrogate Jeremy about picking up guys and messing them up. Jeremy asks for a lawyer.

Meanwhile, Benson and ADA Barba are observing and Barba comments that this one will be a slice. Benson explains that Murphy and Armstrong will be coming in for the lineup and the rest of them made a point of not being available. Barba says neither is the man he killed, asking what they have on that. Benson says they have a witness who saw Jones leaving the bar with the victim. Barba asks is anyone at the hotel saw Jones or if there is DNA or fingerprints, and Benson shakes her head no, saying Jones wears a condom and cleans up after himself really well.

Amaro alerts them that Murphy is there. Benson thanks Charles for coming in and Barba introduces himself. Charles says he is not sure he will be able to recognize anyone. Amaro asks if he kissed him, adding then he got a good look at his face. Barba reminds Charles they are looking for a killer and he has a civic duty. When Charles says this is the end of his life, Barba dryly states he is lucky to be alive at all. Benson moves Charles over to a seat nearby, and then questions Amaro about asking if Charles kissed Jeremy, reminding him that Charles is the victim. Amaro replies that he is a victim in search of a crime, if he would have gotten into that Mercedes with his family, and drive to Connecticut…and Benson asks if he means like he was supposed to. Amaro says all he is saying is he would have been fine. Benson says nothing and walks away.

The line up takes place and Benson tells Charles to say if he recognizes anyone. Jeremy’s lawyer, Minnona Efron, reminds her no prompting. Benson argues that is not prompting. Barba tells Charles to go ahead. Charles looks at all of them and then says it is number 3 – Jeremy - he is the one who attacked him. Benson makes three knocks on the window and Barba thanks Charles. As Charles walks off, Efron tells Barba there was a pre-supposition that the perp was in the lineup and Barba says that was an issue that the Supreme Court decided about 100 years ago. He asks where did Jones find her, and she says she hands out her cards at the village Halloween parade. Barba sarcastically comments that is admirable, she knows the protocol and now she gets to go in and tell her client the good news.

As Benson, Amaro, and Barba walk off, Amaro says the other victim, Armstrong, is on his way in, and so is the witness that saw Jones leaving the bar with Dunleavy. Barba says if it is not enough for the assault it is not enough for the murder and asks if there is anything on Jones in the apartment. Benson says they picked up Jones with his live in boyfriend. Amaro says Mason Clark is on parole for narcotics possession and they found stolen meds in his underwear drawer, adding they were monogrammed. Barba says it is enough to revoke his parole and since he lives with Jones maybe he knows something they can use.

Benson and Amaro have Mason in interrogation, and Amaro thinks he had nothing to do with it and thinks it is a shame to send him to prison, mentioning the drugs and paraphernalia. Mason says Jeremy is good to him and he thinks Jeremy gets money from sleeping with women and they pay him and give him gifts, showing them a watch he gave him. They explain that Jeremy was with Charles, and they show him the info on the charge slip for the water pipe. He insists he was with a woman, saying Jeremy got home after midnight and he was all hyped up, saying something bad happened. Amaro shows him that Dunleavy was killed. But Efron barges in and tells them to stop now. Benson says they are in the middle of an interrogation, and Efron says that Jones asked her to represent Mason as well. Amaro explains Mason already made a voluntary statement, and Efron says if it concerns anything that Jones said to him, they can’t use it. Benson asks why not, he did not ask for a lawyer. Efron says one spouse can’t testify about what the other spouse told him in confidence. Mason is Jeremy’s husband.

Later, Barba explains to Benson and Amaro is it spousal privilege, the idea is to protect the sacred bond of marriage – assuming these two are legally married. Amaro says they were married in Provincetown, and Barba asks by whom and did they use their legal names, wondering if there is a loophole he can crawl through. Benson gives him a look and he asks if this makes her uncomfortable. She say no, she wants to get this guy as much as he does but she is wondering would she challenge a straight marriage like this? He says if he thought the husband was good for the murder, he’s cross examine the priest.

In Supreme Court, the judge asks Efron if she is ready to proceed. Efron says that Barba’s motion is completely ridiculous. She pauses and offers no further explanation. Barba raises his eyebrows and sarcastically replies, “That’s your argument…OK …” and before he can argue his point, the judge asks Efron to be more specific. Efron states that the spousal privilege applies as Jones and Clark are married. Barba argues not in New York, sarcastically adding this is where they happen to be.. Efron counters that New York recognizes all marriages performed in other states, and Barba counters back that it does now, but that the times Jones and Clark were married there was no such thing as same sex marriage in New York. Efron argues to the judge that retroactive recognition applies. But Barba asks recognition of what, the so called wedding was performed in Massachusetts by an underage bartender. Efron says that is irrelevant, the bartender is an ordained minister. Barba says it is mail order by the “Church of Happy Skies” and they have affidavits from witnesses that both celebrants were inebriated. Efron sputters “please!” and says that if being drunk invalidates a marriage , then half the couples in Manhattan are living in sin. She looks through her messy papers to find the bartender’s clergy certificate and her client’s marriage license, and hands them to the judge. The judge rules that, assuming these are valid, she sides with the rights of man and man – the spousal privilege applies. Efron thanks the judge and walks back to the defendant’s table, giving Barba a very satisfied smile.

In the holding cell, Jeremy says to Barba that Efron is better than he thought. She says she charges very reasonable rates, too. Barba gives them an icy look. Efron states that now they have established the law applies to everyone, Barba doesn’t have much of a case for the murder. Barba says he has the three men Jeremy assaulted and Jackson is back from his cruise. Jeremy calls them closet cases and Efron tries to silence him, and goes on to say that Barba’s three so called victims went to hotels with Jones at their own suggestion, and she will find others that they had sex with or tied them up for fun. She says she will take three counts of misdemeanor assault and Barba should thank her.

Later, Benson asks Barba is he is kidding her that he is dropping the murder charge. He says the best evidence is what Clark told her and they can’t use it. She reminds him they still have the assaults and he says they are iffy. He says he will pile on the charges but Jeremy didn’t prey on altar boys, the jury will think they were asking for it. Fin adds that the only thing worse that he said/she said is he said/he said. Benson says she can’t use Mason’s testimony in court but she can use it to investigate. She says that Mason said Jones was some kind of gigolo and that women gave him gifts and asks if anybody believes that. Barba says they are worried that the jury will see gay sex games – and find him some female victims. Fin replies “Back to hunk night.”

Fin and Rollins are back at the strip club and male strippers are performing. They speak again with the owner about Jones and any women, and he says Jones is a gay as a herd of unicorns. Fin asks what if money was involved, and the owner says one lady was waiting for him outside and just about begged him to take her home but Jones just put her in a cab. She was so smashed she left her purse sitting on the sidewalk. Jeremy handed it to the bouncer as if it had female cooties. Rollins stares at the males strippers and Fin waves his hand in front of her face to get her attention.

Barba is sitting at a bar eating and Benson walks up. He asks her how she found him. She says she is a trained detective, plus she could smell the scotch. She says there was no luck on the female victims, they tracked down a woman who invited Jones to basically steal from her and he declined. Barba comments that Benson said that like it was bad news. She reminds him that he was looking for charges to bump up the sentence, and Barba replies he thinks she just brought him one. He taps on the chair next to him and tells her to sit, drink, and smile. She sits down and orders a Cabernet. Barba explains Jones walked away from a woman he could have robbed, which means he only goes after gay men, and now they know it and can prove it and it makes everything he’s done a hate crime. If he uses the hate crime statute, all the penalties get bumped up and he can put Jones away for extra years. Benson questions that Barba is going to argue that a gay man who is married to another gay man hates gays? He nods and says, “Watch me.”

Later, in court, Barba makes his opening statement and says his crimes against the men were also against a group that has long suffered persecution and hatred. He says Jones is also a homosexual so it may seem counter-intuitive that he hates gays, but says there were Jews in the American Nazi party and dark skinned blacks who revile their lighter-skinned cousins. Barba admits he can’t say why Jones targeted men with his same sexual orientation but he did and that is all they need to know to convict him of his crimes. Efron makes her statement and asks the jury what is she thinking right now? She asks if she is thinking she should have had another cup of coffee that morning or that Barba is so wrong he should be taken out and shot? She says they can’t tell and does it matter,. Should she be punished for something that is only inside her head? Barba leaps from his seat and objects, saying Efron is arguing the wisdom of the law and not making an opening statement. The judge tells Efron to watch herself, and Efron apologizes, adding she does not know what she was thinking. Barba sits back down as Efron says she will not tell them Jeremy is an angel, but he is not guilty of the crimes he is charged with, neither against the individuals nor thinking bad thoughts.

Charles Murphy is on the stand and testifies that he met Jones at a bar called New York Junk, a gay bar. He admits he was there looking for companionship for the evening. Next, Armstrong is on the stand and he answers sexual companionship, and that Jeremy approached him, they talked for a while and decided to go to the hotel. Next, Mr. Jackson is on the stand and says they began to have relations. He admits he was willing at first but then Jeremy wanted to do things he was not comfortable with. Back to Murphy, who said he objected and tried to leave. Armstrong says Jeremy tied him down and he couldn’t move. Jackson also said he was tied to the bed and Jeremy forced himself into him and called him names and beat him. Murphy says it was vicious, and out of control. Armstrong says the more it hurt him, the happier Jeremy was. Jackson said he left him tied up, and took his wallet. Murphy said Jeremy asked how does it feel to be the fag.

Afterward, walking in the hallway with Murphy, Barba tells him that was brave. But Melissa is upset, saying now the whole world knows. She asks him if he knew what it was like for her sitting there listening to them? Barba comments that maybe she should not have come. Melissa replies that would be perfect, now the whole world knows but she wouldn’t, just like before. She says “16 years” to Charles and storms off, and when Benson calls out to her, Charles angrily tells her not to even try,

Later, back in court, Jeremy is on the stand, saying he enjoys sex, and says the men who testified before tried to pick him up. He says there are all in the closet and are embarrassed and that is why they are lying. Barba moves to strike that comment, saying they are not here to hear the defendant’s psychological theories. The judge sustains and tells the jury to disregard. Jeremy testifies that the men came on to him and suggested going to hotels, Charles started buying him drinks and saying he had beautiful eyes. Barba shoots a glance back at Mason who is in the gallery. Efron says his activities are a little unconventional, and Jeremy says the men like sex games and when they let loose they can get kinky and even he was surprised by some of the things he wanted. He implies that he didn’t steal the things that he was accused of taking. Efron asks if Jeremy hates gays, and he replies of course not, that is who he is.

Under cross, Barba says Jeremy claims he does not hate gays but his partners get tied up, beaten, and robbed. Efron objects, asking what is the question. The judge sustains. Barba asks if his sexual behavior includes violence, but Jeremy says when he is with his husband, he takes things slow and easy. Barba asks if when Jeremy cruises, he only finds partners who are hard and fast, asking what are the odds. Jeremy replies that men like that and they like to play rough. Barba asks what he means, and Jeremy said they try and look straight. Barba asks if he has a problem with that, and Jeremy says only if they are not honest. He does not hide what he is and he is proud to be gay. He admits it takes courage to come out. Barba asks if those men are gay when it is fun then go back and hide in the closet, asking if that seems fair to him. Jeremy asks back if that seems fair to Barba, who asks Jeremy if he ever thought his life would be easier if he could pass for straight. Jeremy comments he would not want to, he is what he is. Barba counters that those men – the ones who can pass for straight and are not effeminate – Jeremy finds attractive. Jeremy said no, but Barba counters those are the ones that he services, but Jeremy again says no. Barba continues to press, saying Jeremy takes them to hotels, what does he ask them to do when he gets there? Jeremy replies that it does not matter, and Barba questions why not, because Jeremy takes charge? Jeremy says no he’ll doesn’t get down on his knees for them. Barba asks if that’s what he does, and when Jeremy says it doesn’t matter, Barba asks why – they’re the ones who are successful and the ones with the money to move between worlds. Jeremy asks if that is supposed to impress him, and Barba replies he does not know, Jeremy should tell him, considering Jeremy is a part time, unemployed male stripper. Barba asks what do they say to him and Jeremy shouts that it does not matter. He goes on to say they have their fake wives and their show kids and family Christmas cards but their lives are lies and the lies are over. He is just as much of a man as they are, more. Efron asks the judge if they can speak in chambers. The judge nods in agreement.

In the judge’s chambers, Efron thinks Barba disproved his case by getting Jones to let his guard down and it was brilliant, and got him to tell him how he really feels. Barba says he got him to admit that he hates the people he attacks because of who they are and he basically confessed to committing a hate crime. But Efron says that is not what she heard; she heard a clear display of animus against a subset – closeted gay men who can pass as straight. Barba counters that is a distinction without a difference. Efron thinks it is a crucial difference – if she goes out and beats up Jews it is a hate crime but if she beats up left-handed Jews that is assault. She moves for a dismissal of the hate crime charge, Barba claims she is splitting hairs that can’t be seen with an electron microscope. The judge is not so sure, it does appear to be an overreach. Barba thinks the statute is clear, but the judge thinks his case is not. She knows they both agree on the importance of the hate crime statute and it would pain her to see it trivialized by indiscriminate use. Barba comments that in all due respect, isn’t it up to the jury to decide if it applies? The judge asks the court reporter to stop typing, and she says the jury decides the facts, and the judge can set aside a verdict as a matter of law, and says that never looks good for a prosecutor, does it?

Outside at the entry of the courthouse, Barba explains to Benson and Amaro that the judge gave him a choice, he can drop the hate crime charges or she will do it for him. Benson comments that he always knew that was a stretch, and Amaro says the rapes and robberies were clear. Barba replies maybe to Amaro, but the jury has been deliberating for three days and keep popping out to say they are deadlocked. Barba sees a message on his phone and says here they come again. He walks off dejectedly.

In Supreme Court, the jury forewoman says there is still no progress and the jury is getting antagonistic. None of them feel there is any point in continuing. They have agreed on the unlawful imprisonment charges that they find him guilty. The judge declares a mistrial on the other charges. Efron requests a hearing on bail as the only convictions are relatively minor, removing any incentive to flee. The judge agrees. Barba looks back at Benson and Amaro.

Later, in Barba’s office, he, Benson, and Amaro speak with Murphy about testifying again; for unlawful imprisonment, Jones will get a year but he can retry him on the robberies and rapes and they stand a good chance. Murphy leaps from his chair and says no, he will not testify. He is now living in a hotel and his 12 year old son is getting bullied in school and the younger kids don’t know what is going on, they just see their mother crying. Benson says he did the right thing, but he wonders for who and what. Amaro says Jones is a murderer and Murphy asks why don’t they get him for murder? He walks out. Barba comments that is not an unreasonable question, and asks Benson if they conjured up some evidence. Benson advises they know Jones stole from his victims and he gave some of what he got to his husband, including the watch. Barba reminds her they checked it out and the watch didn’t belong to any known victim. Amaro mentions that Jones said on the stand that men buy anniversary gifts for their fake wives, a funny idea to pop in his head. Benson recalls that Laurel Dunleavy told them that her husband died a few days before their anniversary. Barba thinks he bought her something and had it with him when Jones killed him. Benson adds that Jones took it and there was nothing in the hotel room to tie him to the victim. Barba tells them to run down Dunleavy’s credit cards to see if he did any shopping the day he was killed.

Later, Fin is walking Mason in to SVU, who says he knows his rights. Fin says that is why they appreciate his voluntary cooperation. Mason said Fin said if he didn’t come he would arrest him again. Fin replies that he misspoke, and tells Benson and Amaro that Mason is their witness. Benson and Amaro take him into the interview room and he says he does not want to do this anymore, his whole life is upside down. Benson comments that Mason told him about the watch and asks if Jeremy gave him a platinum bracelet too. Mason says he is not talking about this anymore, he can’t testify anyway or tell them what he said. Benson says he can tell them where the bracelet is. He asks what bracelet. Amaro shows him the bill of sale, saying that Dunleavy bought it for his wife that afternoon for their anniversary, and he did not take it home and it was not with his body. Amaro shows him the engraving, which says “I love you madly.” Mason looks shocked and sits down, saying that can’t be right. Benson asks Mason if Jeremy told him he bought it for him, he didn’t tell him that he took it from a man he killed, and the inscription was for that man’s wife/ Mason gets up and says he wants to go now, but Amaro gets him to sit back down. Benson says not yet, and Amaro lets in Laurel Dunleavy into the room. Mason says he is so sorry. She says his husband raped her husband, which is an odd thing to say. She says they were cheating on her and on Mason and that Jeremy did not have to kill him, asking why did he kill him. Benson asks again where is the bracelet, and Mason looks at her quietly.

In Supreme Court at the bail hearing, Efron is asking for nominal bail pending sentencing. Benson walks in and nods to Barba, who says fine with him. Efron sees them and scoffs, quietly commenting “really?” The judge sets bail at $5,000. Jeremy gets up and tells Benson and Fin no hard feelings, and Benson says they are arresting him. Jeremy thinks they are sore losers, and Fin holds up an evidence bag with the bracelet Dunleavy bought the day he died. Barba says it has Dunleavy’s blood and Jeremy’s fingerprints. Jeremy looks to Mason and coldly asks him what did he do. Mason says he is sorry, but Jeremy calls him a scared little faggot. Efron tells him to take it easy, but he says she is in on this too, calling her a backstabbing bitch, saying she is his lawyer not Mason’s and if she thinks she can sell him out he will take her down. He literally gets in her face and spits on her. The court officer pulls him away. Fin asks Efron is she is OK, and she is rattled but says yeah, she’s had worse. She tells them they were wrong about Jeremy, he doesn’t just hate gays…and Benson says he hates everyone. Barba thinks he hates himself. We fade to black.

I really agree that Rollins and Fin have a good chemistry together-from day one really, he seems to have taken her under his wing and is very protective of her.I think Munch and Fin had good chemistry as well.With these regular actors, its so obvious that they like each other and enjoy working together.It comes through onscreen. I like the way new writers kind of tap into the small details of the individual characters.When Nick asked the first victim Charles Murphy, if he kissed the gay man, Jeremy Jones,Liv took him to task for asking such a question of a victim.But I took that to mean that Nick as a straight married man with a child, was really disgusted by this Murphy's closeted behavior and perhaps didn't buy his 'victim' story. Murphy was a closeted gay man, living a lie and jeopardizing his family himself with his behavior and yet he was blaming the detectives for 'outing him'. He was to blame by his actions. Very interesting dynamic, I thought and I liked that the writers had Nick act on that dynamic.Very well-written.

I just watched this episode on Hulu. I know that it's hella old, but I couldn't resist commenting. I have to admit, it makes me uncomfortable, mainly because the feelings Jeremy Jones expressed about closeted gay people are true.

As an out gay woman who never had the luxury of passing for straight...I gotta tell you that as despicable as what Jeremy was out doing to those men was, everything he said about them was true. Their lives are lies. They are cowards, hiding in closets while the rest of us live authentically and fight in the streets for all of our rights.

Of course Jeremy should go to jail for his crimes, but that doesn't make what he said about those men on the stand any less true. I feel the sorriest for the oblivious straight people who don't know that they are married to gay people who have no romantic feelings for them.

This episode really highlighted a very real divide in the community. Straight-passing, closeted gay people versus non-passing out gay people. Interesting that SVU would delve into this.